Newb question regarding brake lights

Wrongturn · #1 05-09-2009, 04:37 PM

The gf was following in a car today and noticed that whenever I came to a stop or was slowing she never noticed my brake light getting brighter during braking....got home and sure enough light maintains the same level of brightness when pressing down on brake. Whats the most common cause of this?

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SC-Longhair · #2 05-09-2009, 05:23 PM

Have you checked the bulb? I believe it's a dual filament and maybe that one filament burnt out. That'd be the simplest thing first.

ronny c. · #3 05-09-2009, 05:50 PM

do you mean you dont have brake lights at all, or you thought they should get brighter the harder you mash the brake?

mud · #4 05-09-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrongturn

.
The gf was following in a car today and noticed that whenever I came to a stop
or was slowing she never noticed my brake light getting brighter during braking....
got home and sure enough light maintains the same level of brightness when pressing down on brake.

Whats the most common cause of this?

I would say the most common cause of this is broken front brake light switch.

Done anything to your switch housings lately??

If so, you might wanna check.

mud
.

xxxflhrci · #5 05-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudpuddle

I would say the most common cause of this is broken front brake light switch.

.

Yeah, but it still would work when you press the rear brake pedal.

As said before, check the bulb.

Wrongturn · #6 05-09-2009, 06:04 PM

I did change to chrome switch housings a few weeks ago.....how do i tell if the front brake switch is broken?

BIGDADI · #7 05-09-2009, 06:06 PM

pull the front brake lever if it dont work but the rear pedal does then there you go, but if neither work check the bulb.

mud · #8 05-09-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxflhrci

.

Yeah, but it still would work when you press the rear brake pedal.

no, when the front switch is broken, the brake light is always on.

so, no change in brightness.

mud

Wrongturn · #9 05-09-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudpuddle

no, when the front switch is broken, the brake light is always on.

so, no change in brightness.

mud

Whats the best way to tell if the front switch is broken....

xxxflhrci · #10 05-09-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudpuddle

no, when the front switch is broken, the brake light is always on.

so, no change in brightness.

mud

That's only when the button is broken off and the switch isn't shorted....The button can also stay in and not pop out....Seen that. The switch can also simply short out and not make a circuit even if the button pops out...Seen that, too. In either of these cases, the brake light filiment doesn't light.

I guess until he tells us if only one or both filiments is lit, we won't know...LOL.